Kansas City, Mo. ? One big game got Jared Allen noticed. A few more like it, and he might just prove to be the dominating pass rusher the Kansas City Chiefs have been looking for.

The second-year defensive end was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, after recording three sacks and recovering two fumbles – both of which he forced – in Sunday’s 28-21 victory over the Washington Redskins.

He was the first Chiefs player to force and recover two fumbles and have at least one sack in a game since the late Derrick Thomas did it in 1994.

“I think I’ve been playing well all year,” Allen said. “I’ve been having tackles and sacks in almost every game. I played really well (against Washington), there’s no way around it – but I always put pressure on myself to play well.

“This is what I get paid to do,” he said. “I get paid to sack the quarterback, and that’s what I was doing, and now I have to go out and do it again Sunday.”